Last month, Bedfordshire experienced rainfall comparable to Multan's annual total. The city typically receives around 2mm in an average October, which is roughly an eighth of what London saw on Wednesday. On the outskirts, such as near the cricket ground, donkeys and oxen pull carts while camels seek shade under trees to escape the intense afternoon sun. The roads are dominated by tractors and lorries, many adorned with intricate, colorful paintwork and shiny decorations. Multan is a hot, dry city, where endurance and reliability are paramount, rather than flashy characteristics. This is not a place to gamble with Ben Stokes's hamstring. Instead, England views it as an opportunity to test how much strain their seam-bowling unit can handle, given that most are encountering these conditions for the first time.
Less than two years have passed since England's last Test series in Pakistan, but they enter this one without the four seamers who played then: Jimmy Anderson has retired, Stokes and Mark Wood are injured, and Ollie Robinson is out of favor. In their stead, Chris Woakes returns to Asia for his first Test in eight years, Gus Atkinson makes his debut outside England, and Brydon Carse makes his full debut. "It's exciting for the lads to experience these conditions for the first time," said Stokes, who confirmed on Saturday that his hamstring injury will keep him out of the first Test starting Monday. "It will show them how challenging Test cricket can be. It's tough anyway, but coming to the subcontinent in these temperatures requires character, and we have plenty of that."
There are no doubts in Stokes's mind about the bowlers selected. "We know they can handle the heat. There will be no backing down from what Popey [stand-in captain Ollie Pope] asks of them, even if it's hot and they're tired, because that's what you do for the team." The England squad's enthusiasm for golf is often mocked, but the hours spent on the hotel's course since their arrival on Tuesday have likely aided their acclimatization. "Being out in the weather for the last few days and really embracing it has been a huge help," Joe Root said.
Less beneficial is Anderson's absence, as he's been busy at a pro-am tournament in St Andrews. He is expected to join the squad as a bowling mentor on Tuesday. In 2022, England relied more on spin than seam, but conditions for this series might differ, with Pakistan hinting at giving their fast bowlers, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, extra support. "Speaking to Shan [Masood, the Pakistan captain] at the start of the summer, he hinted at having a strong seam attack and wanting to use it to their advantage, so we'll see what happens," Root said.
Unfortunately, the pitch for the opening Test has been covered in tarpaulin, denying England's players any chance to assess it beyond its green appearance at both ends. Despite this, they announced their team on Saturday. Pakistan's preparations have been chaotic, most recently losing 2-0 at home to Bangladesh. Though Masood claims there are no unity issues, the team's recent wounds are still fresh. On the other hand, a slight improvement in the performance of key players, notably Babar Azam, could significantly boost their prospects. This is the Pakistan England is preparing for. "The class is there, we won't be taking them lightly," Root said. "We know it's going to be tough."
